Eating This One Food Could Lower Your Bad Cholesterol

Good news for guacamole lovers: An avocado a day may help keep heart disease away.

A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who ate an avocado daily had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)—known as the "bad cholesterol"—than those who were on a similar diet but didn't eat avocado.

In the study, participants who ate a moderate-fat diet including the avocado for five weeks lowered their LDL by 13.5 mg/dL while those who followed a moderate-fat diet without the avocado only lowered their LDL by 8.3 mg/dL. But that wasn't the only benefit. Those who consumed the avocado diet also lowered their total cholesterol and triglycerides, which could further benefit their tickers.

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Experts say that along with avocados, other heart-healthy fats like nuts and extra-virgin oil may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

But before you dig into the guac, know that what you pair your avocado with makes a difference in heart health too, so skip the salty, high-cal tortilla chips. Consider dipping veggies like carrots and celery into the dip instead; you'll still get the crunch you crave. Some other tasty ideas: Chop up an avocado and use it as a garnish for black bean soup, mash it up into a sandwich spread for a healthier alternative to mayonnaise or simply scoop it straight from the skin!